Research Greenleafs Principles of Servant Leadership

GREENLEAF'S PRINCIPLES OF SERVANT LEADERSHIP
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Greenleaf's Principles of Servant Leadership
Introduction
The notion of servant leadership as known is considered as a purposeful oxymoronic in nature. The theory found its origin biblically; however, Robert K. Greenleaf intentionally contextualized this theory to seek descriptors that would give people a pause in their thoughts in challenging them on their long-standing assumptions that were held in the relationship between leaders and their subjects within organizations (Stone et al., 2013). Greenleaf, therefore, borrows from the biblical framework of servant leadership in describing the principles and attributes of servant leaders, an aspect that this paper seeks to disclose. This paper explores the similarities and difference between Greenleaf’s principles of servant leadership and those presented by the scriptures.
Similarities between Greenleaf’s Principles and the Scriptures
Greenleaf establishes a series of tenets that present a full picture of servant leadership. In his theory, the element of service to others that requires servant leaders to assume the position of servanthood in their interactions with their subjects is expounded. According to this theory, the element of authenticity in legitimate servant leadership arises not only from the exercise of power or self-interests but from a fundamental desire to help people. A servant leader as depicted by Greenleaf centers his primary motivation and purpose in encouraging greatness in others, attributes that are evident in scriptures. Christ is portrayed as a model of a servant leader scripturally and acts in love and humility in self-giving than self-service. Sanders (2014) affirms that the model of Jesus presents servanthood in the very nature of his willingness to humble himself as a servant in serving others, thus giving his selfish motivation for the interest of others as established in Colossians 3:23.
On the other hand, Greenleaf’s principles of servanthood that center on the motivation to serve others is also similar to the illustration of Christ in washing his disciple's feet (John 13:15), an aspect that serves as an ultimate similarity in servant leadership between the two principles. On the other hand, a servant leader needs to be above reproach, depicting the attributes of self-control, respect, temperate, hospitable, tolerant, and not given to violence, drunkenness, and the love of money as evident in1Timoth...